Lock switch



J. E. SMISOR LOCK SWITCH June 29 1926.

Filed March 27, 1925 lllllnllllll'l 2547/, bwl

I'lGZ Patented .lune 2K9, 1926i.

UNITED STATES PATENT ortica.

LOCK Swinton.

pp'icaion filed March 27, 1925. serial No. 18,733.

This inventionrelates to electric switches of that type controlled ,by a permutation lock, and particularly adapted for controlling the circuits of an `automobile engine or the like, altho applicable'to other uses v'tor which it is appropriate.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved device ot this type, a characteristic feature'r ot which is the positive operation ot aswitcli'lever by means of lock tumblers with which, when properly set, the lever will engage, and then'whe'n the tumblers are turned the contact carrying lever will closethe circuit by'niovefment in one direction or open the circuit byinove- Vment in the other direction, the necessary pressure being applied thru or the voperating tumblers.. Y Y

A. further object of the invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction ot such lock switches.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line 1d1 ot Fig. 2. Fig.

.2 is a front elevation, partly broken away,

showing the parts in one position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in another position. Fig. L is a detail in perspective.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates a casing conveniently set against an instrument board 7, the casing having a bushing or neck 8 which projects into a hole in the front board and forms a mounting for the lock parts which include a front plate 9 and a dial 10 tixed to a spindle 11 on which the tumbler-s 12 are mounted. The spindle extends thru the casing and receives a nut 13 at its rear end which contines a rear lock plate 141 fitting in a. recess in the re movable rear plate 15 ot the casing. The lock parts may be ot any suitable or desired construction and operated in the usual manner to set the tumblers according` to a predetermined combination.

Each tumbler has in its outer edge a notch 16, and when by manipulation ot the tumblers these notches are set in line, the lock is set in position for operation of the switch.

rihe switch parts comprise a pair of blades 17 electrically connected to the wire 18 forming one side of the circuit, and a blade 19 electrically connected to the wire 2() forming the other side of the circuit, and adapted to "enter between the blades 17 to close the circuit. The blade 19is carriedby a piece ot insulation 21 forming one arm ot a bent lever, the other arm :22 ot which projects from a', hub 23 which is pivoted by a pin 24l tothe casing, and when the 'lever is rocked, the switch will be opened or closed accordingly. The arni 22 is wide enough to extend across the edge ot the tumblers, and the free end` of the arm' is formed on one side with a rounded or cam surface 25, and on the opposite side with a recess or cavity 26, forming' a poin'tor edge 27. at the extremity ot the arm, which is 'of proper size and shape 'to' ente'r the tumbler notches '16 when they are lined up.` The lever also carries Ya fiat sj'jringv QS-adapted to strike the 29 projecting from the wall of the casing, and whenthe switch is opened, this spring is placed iindrtension suicient toA engage the end 27 ot the arm in the notches 16 when the tumblers are properly set. Y

The operation will now be understood: To lock the switch in openr position, as shown in Fig. 3, the knob is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front, or as shown by the arrow in F ig. 3, and one or more of the tumblers will wipe over the cam surt'ace 25 of the arm 22 and rock the lever from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in F ig. 3, thereby opening the switch. The action is positive, since the adjacent edge ot the notch 16 will bear against said cam surface and torce the lever over. To close the switch the tumblers must be turned by manipulating the dial until the notches 16 are all in line with each other and with the end 27 ot the arm 22. The spring 28, which is placed under slight tension by the locking operation, will then cause the end 27 to enter the notches slightly. Then by turning the knob and tumblers in counter clockwise direction, the opposite edge ot the notches 16 will engage the end 27 and rock the lever by positive pressure, forcing the blade 19 down between the blades 17 as shown in Fig. 2. This closes the switch, and it is held closed until the locking operation is repeated as above described. The cavity 26 gives the necessary clearance to enable the edge of the notches 16 to Work around the edge 27 to the extent sutlicient to avoid binding of the parts and insure complete closure of the switch.

The mounting ot the lock includes a pair of screws 80 which extend thru the front plate 9 and the instrument board and are tapped into. the casing, the heads of the screws being covered by the dial plate so that the lock cannot be tampered with from the front.

It will be obvious that until the notches 16 are registered with each other, and with the arm 22, the bearing of the free end of the arm against the rim or outer edge of the tumblers will hold the switch in open position, against any possibility of being closed. Furthermore the closure of the switch is effected by pressure applied tothe lever by means of the knob and the tuinblers engaging the lever again after the latter enters the notches in the periphery `of the tumblers.

I claim:

l. The combination with a switch lever, of a permutation lock having a set of rotary tumblers `with notches in the edges thereof in which the end of the lever may be engaged when the notches are registered therewith, said end of the lever having a cam surface atveach side thereof engaged by either wall of the notches to positively swing the lever in either direction by turning the tuinblers.

, 2. The conibinationvset forth in claim l,

the lever being a bent lever having a contact at one end and having at the other end opposite cam surfaces against which either wall of the notches will wipe to positively swing the lever when the tumblers are turned in either direction.

3. The combination stated in claim Vl, the lever having a spring attached thereto and movable therewith, and a stop against which the spring strikes to place the same under tension when the lever is thrown to open position.

4. The combination with a knife switch one member of which consists of a bent lever having a contact at one end and opposite cam surfaces at the other end, of a permutation lock having a set of rotary tumblers adapted to wipe over said cam surfaces'resp-ectively to throw the lever to either open or closed position when the tumblers are turned n opposite Ways, the tumblers having notches in the edges into whichthe end ofthe lever will engage when the notches are registered therewith.

In testimony whereof, I aflx my signature.

JASPER E. smsen. 

